River's 2025 keeps adding blows. The 1-0 defeat against Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata at the Más Monumental Stadium not only compromised Marcelo Gallardo's team's aspirations to qualify for the next Copa Libertadores, but also matched a negative streak that had not been repeated in almost a century.
With this new setback, El Millonario has now suffered four consecutive home defeats across all competitions. The sequence began with the loss to Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores, and continued in the Torneo Clausura with setbacks against Deportivo Riestra, Sarmiento, and Gimnasia.
La derrota frente a Gimnasia fue la cuarta consecutiva en el Monumental
This is an unprecedented record in the professional era: the last time River lost four times in a row at home was in 1926, when it was still competing in the amateur era and played its matches at the old Alvear y Tagle stadium. Back then, the team lost to San Lorenzo, Racing, Sportivo Palermo, and Sportivo Buenos Aires.
The statistic worsens the outlook for a turbulent year for the Núñez side, which historically only finds a worse record between 1905 and 1906, when its stadium was in Dársena Sur. River suffered seven consecutive home defeats, its worst streak of all time.
This situation is compounded by a particularity, since the team will not be able to reverse the record until next year. Given its sixth place in Group B of the Clausura, if it manages to advance to the play-offs, it will have to play as the away team unless it faces a lower-ranked opponent.
River's last win at the Monumental was on August 31, when it defeated San Martín de San Juan 2-0 with goals from Santiago Lencina and Maximiliano Salas. Since then, the stadium that is usually its fortress has become a stage for frustrations.
River no gana como local desde el triunfo 2-0 a San Martín de San Juan
What's next for River
With qualification for the Libertadores still at stake and the need to climb positions in its group, River will face two decisive away matches to close the regular phase. First, the Superclásico against Boca next Sunday at La Bombonera, and then a match in Liniers against Vélez, with the date yet to be confirmed.
The end of the season will be, for Gallardo and his squad, a test of character in the final stretch of a 2025 that will go down in the books for the least desired reasons.
